Friends of Bath County accident victim remember life lost too soon

Friends of Bath County accident victim remember life lost too soon (Image 1) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

BATH COUNTY (WSLS) - Friends of 16-year-old Ali Wolfe remember their favorite memories of the young woman taken too soon.

Max Watkins read a handwritten note Ali wrote to him before a high school basketball game.

He says he has dozens more just like it from her.

It's an example, he says of how encouraging Ali was even when she wasn't in uniform on the sidelines. 

“She cared so much, Ali.  She'd get me something every year for my birthday, she never expected anything in return, she just wanted to see other people happy and that's really the truth,” Max said.

She signed her note “Love Ali” and that's exactly what her friends are doing - loving and mourning a life taken too soon.

It was an area of Rt. 220 near the high school where Ali ran off the road Monday.

“She and I talked every day and we always texted and Snapchatted and when she stopped responding for a while, I knew something was weird,” explained Lucas Hodge.

Mikahla Puffenbarger heard the rescue call come across the scanner.

“Ali was my best friend,” Mikahla said.  “Every band trip, every band camp, everything we did was together.”

On Max's porch they recalled their favorite Ali memories and thought about how Bath County High School won't quite be the same.

The football field was empty Wednesday and because school leaders called off practice for the rest of the week, so the community could mourn.

“Ali knew everyone. She talked to everyone. A lot of people are really going to miss her,” said Mikahla.

Support for Ali and her family continues on social media.

Britt Ailstock created a page called “Prayers for Ali.”

She said in a statement, “Ali Wolfe was a beautiful young lady with a bright future ahead of her.  She was captain of the cheerleading squad for Bath County High School.  You never saw Ali without a smile on her face. She was headstrong and willing to help anyone at any second without complaint; she never turned her head away from a person that needed help.  She was a great supporter when her friends were in need.”

According to Bath County High School's website tentative funeral arrangements are as follows:

Family visitation will be from noon to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 2014 with the service immediately following at Lifeline Church.

Ali will be buried in Mountain Grove. A reception will follow at the Mountain Grove Community Center.